Why study English
The study of literature equips students for professional and civic life by fostering both practical communication skills and a sympathetic imagination. By reading literature critically, students gain essential training in how to think clearly and write articulately—skills that are essential to success in many fields, including public relations, business, administration, law, and information technology as well as publishing and teaching.
By exploring social and cultural questions through the lenses of poetry, fiction, and drama, students also develop the important capacity to see the world from someone else’s point of view. They learn to examine familiar ideas from new perspectives; to approach unfamiliar ideas with generosity and intelligence; to understand how historical context shapes individual beliefs and social relations; and to think critically about how all kinds of texts contribute to the social debates that shape culture.
Student profile
Some students major in English because they have specific career goals in mind—most often teaching or writing. Many of these students apply to teachers’ education programs after graduation to become elementary or high school teachers; some eventually pursue graduate studies in English in the hope of becoming college or university professors. Others pursue careers in publishing as professional writers or editors.
Others choose to study English because they enjoy reading fiction and poetry, and see literary studies as a form of personal enrichment. But they soon find that studying literature also develops critical thinking and writing skills that are applicable to many careers. Some of these students complete a major or honours with specialization in English through our co-operative education program, in which they explore different career options by completing four paid work terms in addition to their course work. Others complete a double major, which enables them to continue their studies in English while pursuing professional goals in another field.